Story Highlights

But the Port Huron Patriots are already making headlines — and for the wrong reasons.

Patriots owner Jude Carter was arrested Aug. 11 for an incident that stemmed from a bounced check in February. He was charged with writing a non-sufficient check of $500 or more and was released on a $2,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 3.

The Patriots season was derailed after Carter repeatedly bounced checks, which led to a mass exodus of players. The Patriots called off the season with games still left to play and decided to focus on next year.

But that hasn't stopped the organization from having to deal with issues from the past. The current situation stems from a bounced check to ForSports, which outfitted the team with uniforms for the 2014 season. ForSports owner Scott Forster declined comment, but Carter came out swinging.

"Scott from ForSports made a fraudulent police report," Carter said. "I was arrested. I have since then talked to the prosecutor with the knowledge that I had made a payment arrangement with Scott, therefore making it a civil matter and not a criminal matter. Scott broke the law, not me.

"I am going to press charges against Scott for falsifying a police report."

Carter admits to bouncing a check to Forster, but claims they made an agreement for him to repay part of the check, and for his wife, with whom he is going through divorce proceedings, to cover the other half.

"Scott is a liar," Carter said. "He did something with somebody, and he's about to pay for it. This is really a divorce matter. I set up a plan with Scott to pay 50 percent. I already paid Scott $900. I am $100 short of my share. Once I made the payments, it is not a criminal offense but a civil matter."

This much is certain, the misdeeds from the past seasons are still catching up with the Patriots and leave a big question mark about their outlook for the future. Carter refused to comment regarding the status of the current roster and who would be coaching the team, but said he expects to field a team early next year when the new season begins.

"I am 110 percent committed to having a team in the 2015 season," Carter said. "There is no issue."

Contact Joseph Hayes at (810) 989-6268 or at jahayes@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @jhayes1136.